Archbishop Randazzo says canon law must serve Gospel

Archbishop Anthony Randazzo stated that canon law must remain grounded in the Gospel to serve the mission and communion of the Church. In his first interview since becoming the head of the Vatican's Dicastery for Legislative Texts, Randazzo told the journal Vox Canonica that the law should always serve the Gospel rather than treating modern challenges as uniquely complex.

The former Bishop of Broken Bay was appointed prefect of the dicastery by Pope Leo XIV on March 25, receiving the personal title of archbishop. The dicastery assists the pope with legislative authority and ensures Church laws are interpreted and applied correctly.

Randazzo said he prefers the term regeneration over reform to describe a return to the origins of Christian identity and mission. He noted that canon law does not stand apart from divine revelation but helps safeguard the faith received from the apostles. He also argued that synodality and accompaniment are not new concepts, noting that existing Latin and Eastern codes already provide legal expressions for participation, mission, and the dignity of the baptized. Randazzo rejected the idea of a conflict between pastoral care and the proper application of canon law.